Apparatus for stacking note books or the like

Abstract

Apparatus for stacking pads with spiral binders has a reciprocable and pivotable turn-around device which inverts each second pad of a file of equidistant pads before the pads reach a stacking platform. At the stacking station, the pads are arrested by an adjustable stop which locates inverted pads in a first position and the non-inverted pads in a second position so that the binders of successive pads in a growing stack are located at the opposite sides of the stack. The turn-around device is arrested in response to detection of the absence of pads in the path along which the pads move toward the stacking platform by a photocell which further transmits signals to the mechanism for moving the stop so that the absence of one or more pads does not affect the array of pads in the stack on the platform. A level detector monitors the height of the stack on the platform and transmits signals for stepwise lowering of the platform. The number of pads in successive stacks is counted and the counter transmits signals which actuate a device for removing fully grown stacks from the platform.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for manipulating substantially flat commodities, particularly pads each of which has a first portion whose thickness deviates from the thickness of at least one second portion thereof, comprising a stacking device; means for transporting a succession of commodities in identical orientation in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path onto said stacking device where successive commodities descend on top of each other to form a growing stack, including at least one endless flexible element; stop means disposed above said device and positioned to arrest successive commodities prior to descent onto said device; means for moving said stop means between first and second positions; orientation changing means adjacent said path ahead of said device and actuatable to change the orientation of selected commodities in said path, said orientation changing means including a pocket having an opening and being movable between a first position in which said opening is located in the path of an oncoming commodity and a second position in which said opening allows the commodity to leave said pocket by moving in said direction, and pulleys for said flexible element, said pulleys being mounted in said pocket to confine successive portions of said flexible element to movement first into and thereupon from said pocket so that said element entrains an oncoming commodity into said pocket by way of said opening in the first position of said pocket and from said pocket via said opening in the second position of said pocket; means for actuating said orientation changing means, including means for pivoting said pocket about an axis which is substantially normal to said direction; and control means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating and moving means so that said stop means assumes one of said positions prior to engagement with commodities whose orientation remained unchanged and the other of said positions prior to engagement with commodities whose orientation has been changed by said orientation changing means. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus for manipulating substantially flat commodities, particularly pads each of which has a first portion whose thickness deviates from the thickness of at least one second portion thereof, comprising a stacking device; means for transporting a succession of commodities in identical orientation in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path on to said stacking device where successive commodities descend on top of each other to form a growing stack, including at least one endless flexible element; stop means disposed above said device and positioned to arrest successive commodities prior to descent onto said device; means for moving said stop means between first and second positions; orientation changing means adjacent said path ahead of said device and actuatable to change the orientation of selected commodities in said path, said orientation changing means including a pocket having an opening and being movable between a first position in which said opening is located in the path of an oncoming commodity and a second position in which said opening allows the commodity to leave said pocket by moving in said direction; means for actuating said orientation changing means, including means for pivoting said pocket about an axis which is substantially normal to said direction, said pivoting means comprising a gear secured to said pocket; a stationary toothed rack meshing with said gear and means for alternately rotating said gear clockwise and counterclockwise; and control means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating and moving means so that said stop means assumes one of said positions prior to engagement with commodities whose orientation remained unchanged and the other of said positions prior to engagement with commodities whose orientation has been changed by said orientation changing means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising main prime mover means for said transporting means, said means for alternately rotating said gear comprising a crank drive deriving motion from said main prime mover means.